Ball throwing apparatus



Jan. 20, 1959 Filed Dec. 4, 1956 l. COHN BALL THROWING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

W \l Co H N Jan. 20, 1959 l. COHN BALL THROWING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 4, 1956 I INVENTOR. RW N C 0 H United States Patent BALL THROWING APPARATUS Irwin Cohn, Leominster, Mass. Application December 4, 1956, 'Serial No. 626,102

24 Claims. (01. 124- 26) This invention relates to a baseball batting practice apparatus for use as a toy or similar purposes.

One object of this invention is to provide a highly improved device which will throw a batting practice ball into the air a given distance and height so as to simulate a pitch. a

It is also an object of this invention to provide a machine for pitching balls which is adapted to operate from ground level or near ground level, and which may be set to operate either manually or with the foot so that the user does not need to bend over, thus saving an amount of time and effort.

It is also an object of this invention to provide in a device of the character described, a remote control release enabling the user to stand at a given distance from the device and cause the device to pitch a ball at the users will.

A further object of this invention is to provide a device of the character described, which may be loaded with a :plurality of balls and will release them one at a time as the machine is set by means of a manually operated resetting control, and released by means of a remote control foot operated release.

It is yet a further object of this invention to provide a device of the character described, which is simple and sturdy in construction, few in parts, efficient and positive in operation, attractively designed, and extremely inexpensive to construct so as to make possible its manufacture as a toy for use by children.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope of invention will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings in which are shown various illustrative embodiments of this invention;

Fig. l is a perspective view of the batting practice pitcher;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the device of the invention with one case half removed, showing the launching arm in horizontal position;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the device of the invention with one case half removed, showing the launching arm released;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken through the line 6-6 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken through the line 77 of Fig. 3.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, Fig. 1 illustrates a pitching device 10 in accordance with the present invention. The device 10 may be mounted on a floor or outside on the ground. The device is provided with ,upwardly curved portion 28. upwardly out of the housing 13 to form a lower rear chamber wall 29.

Patented Jan. 20, 1959 ice a base section 12, a launching mechanism housing 13, and a ball reservoir chamber 14. The complete outer case of the mechanism including members 12, 13, and 14 is formed of two, nearly identical, half sections 15 and 16. The two case sections 15 and 16 are a right side section 15 formed with a curved slot 17 in the mechanism housing section 13 thereof, and a left side section 16 which, except for the absence of any slot, is identical to section 15. Case halves 15 and 16 may be molded of plastic or any other suitable material. Fig. 1

also illustrates a pitched ball 18. The balls used in the machine may be of the perforated thin plastic shell type as comonly used for batting practice because of their light weight, or any other ball found to be commensurate with the details of construction as to size and strength of formed with an arched rear Wall 23, a side wall 24 which is formed with arcuate slot 17 and provided with a front 'wall 25. Front wall 25 extends upwardly from the top wall 22 of the base 12 forming a short vertical wall 25a. A rearwardly curved wall section 25b is formed above section 25a, and above inwardly curved section 25b is an outwardly curved section 25c which leads into the ball reservoir chamber 14.

The ball reservoirchamber is comprised of an angled lower wall 26 extending upwardly and forwardly from curved wall 250. Wall 26 also extends downwardly and rearwardly within housing 13 forming wall section 27. Wall 27 is formed at the rear of housing 13 with an Curved wall 28 extends A forwardly and upwardly extending wall 38 is formed above wall section 29 and is curved downwardly at 31. A straight upwardly angled top wall 32 is for-med forwardly of curved section 31. Wall 32 .is angled upwardly parallel to walls 26 and 27. Walls 26 to 32 inclusive are all curved outwardly in the direction of side wall 21 of the base. A side wall 33 is formed interconnecting walls 26 to 32. The ball chamber 14 is also formed with a front facing wall 34 which extends inwardly from side wall 33. Wall 34 has a lower, edge 35 and an upper edge 36 which curve inwardly to meet at point 37. Point 37 is on a plane with the inside edges of walls 26 and 32 and approximately halfway therebetween. A partition 38 is positioned behind point 37 of wall 34, extends toward the rear portion of the ball chamber and is parallel to walls 26 and 32. Between wall section 27 and the curved wall 31 is a partition wall or ramp 39 which is angled upwardly and rearwardly. Enough space for the passage of the ball 18 is left between partition 39 and partition 38. Partition 39 does not extend inwardly to the edge of wall 31 as may be seen in Fig. 7. Wall sections 27 and 28 are also recessed and are joined to side wall 24 of housing 13. Thus a passage is provided between housing 13 and the ball chamber 14. The two half sections 15 and 16 are connected by lugs 46 and 41 at the rear of the housing, and 50 and 51 at the front of the housing. Lug 51 is set back from the front wall of the housing. A short ridge 52 extends between the front curved wall 25:: and lug 51. p g

The side walls of the half sections 15 and 16 of the housing 13 are each formed at their lower front and adjacent lug 50 with an outwardly extending hollow bearing cap 53. When the, two molded halves 15 and 16 are assembled together and connected by means of pins or cement as shown in Fig. 4, a fulcrum pin 54 is located between the bearing caps 53 with the ends thereof inserted into the hollow portions of the caps and the shaft extending transversely and horizontally therebetween.v Hinged to the pin 54 is a lever arm "55. Lever arm 55 may be made of stamped sheet metal or any other suitable material. Arm 55 is formed with a pair of side walls 56, a pair of lower side walls 57 extending downwardly and inwardly from the side walls 56 and a bottom wall 58 interconnecting the lower side walls 57. The upper side walls 56 extend longitudinally beyond the ends of lower side walls 57 forming arm portions 59, each of which is formed with an opening 60 through which pin 54 passes. Thus arm 55 is pivotally mounted on fulcrum pin 54. The lower side walls 57 are formed with end walls 57a recessed from arms 59, and bottom wall 58 is formed with an end wall 58a reccssed. from end walls 57a. The lower side walls 57 are also formed with inner edges 57b extending between end walls 57a and 58a. The opposite end of the lever arm 55 is formed with side wall edges 61, lower side wall edges 62, and bottom wall edge 63. The rear end portions of the side walls 56 of the lever arm 55 are formed each with a through opening65. A pin 66 extends through openings and through curved slot 17 which is positioned adjacent openings 65, so as to coincide with the pivotal arc of lever arm 55. A knob 67 is fittedto the end of pin 66 which extends out of the housing. Rotatably mounted on pin 66 between the side walls 56 of the lever arm is a stop roller 68. Roller 68 is positioned so as to contact lug 51 when lever arm 55 is swung to the upper end of its arc. Roller 68 is preferably made of rubber or any similar resilient material so as to act as a shock absorber.

Lever arm 55 is also formed with a rectangular opening 70 at the central portion of the bottom wall 58 thereof.

Wound about the fulcrum pin 54 between the side wall 56- of the lever arm, are a pair of torsion springs 71. Extending from each spring coil 72 is an arm 73. A pair of tension arms 73 extend between wall 57b of the lever arm and hook under end wall 58a of bottom wall 58. Extending downwardly from the opposite ends of the coils 72 are downwardly extending holding arms 74 which are formed with S-shaped lower feet 75 contacting the top wall of the base 12. Thus the lever arm 55 is placed under resilient tension, tending to force it upwards.

Between opening 70 and end 63 of the lever arm 55 are a pair of openings 76 to which is attached by bolts or rivets, a striking arm 78. Striking arm 78 is formed with a contact plate portion 79 which is positioned underneath holes 76 in the bottom wall 58 of the lever arm and secured thereto. Extending downwardly from one side of contact plate 79 is striking arm wall 80.

The front end of wall 80 is formed with an inwardly angled wall-81. A wall 82 extends rearwardly from wall 81 towmds the rear housing wall 23. The top edge of Wall 82 is provided with a striking plate 83.

When the lever arm is extended upwardly to the top of its arc with stop roller 68 contacting lug 51, the striking arm'78 extends upwardly into the ball chamber 14 between partitions 39. The lever arm may be pushed downwardly to a horizontal position by pressure on the outside knob 67.

Positioned below opening 70 in the bottom wall of the lever arm- (when in horizontal position) is a rocker catch 85. Rocker catch 85 is pivotally mounted on a pin 86 which extends between sidewalls 24 of the mechanism housing. The rocker catch is provided with a forwardly extending hook 87 positioned above the pivotal mounting. A limit arm 88' extends rearwardly from a point between the pivotal mounting portion 86 and hook 87-.' A lug 89 is formed-inside wall 24 of the housing and extendsinwardly underneath limit arm 88 and is positioned to allow the rocker catch 85 to be rotated backwards so as to allow hook 87 to slip into opening 70 when the lever arm 55 is moved to horizontal position. When hook 87 is rotated forwardly, it will engage the bottom wall 58 of the lever arm. Rocker catch 85 is provided with a forwardly extending arm portion 90. Extending forwardly from arm 90 is a flat lateral arm 91.

Built up above top wall 22 of the base 12 is a platform 92, reinforced by wall 93. Forwardly of the rocker catch 85; between spring 71' and the front wall section 25a, side walls 24 of the housing are formed with inwardly extending bracket members 94. Directly below bracket members 94 are "a second pair of bracket members 95. Received within bracket members 94 and 95 is the flange 96 of a rearwardly extending rubber bellows 97. Received within flange 96 and extending forwardly therefrom is a metal or plastic tube 98.

Each lower front wall of section 25a of the case halves of the housing is formed with a half-circular indentation 99 which together with the other half section forms a circular opening through which a flexible hose 100 passes. Hose 100 may be formed of rubber, plastic, or any other suitable resilient material. The end of hose 100 which passes through opening 99 is fitted onto tube 98. Tube 100 may extend out of the housing for any desired distance. At the outer end of hose 100 a tube 101 is engaged. Tube 101 may be similar in construction to tube 98. A bulb 102 is fitted over the other end of tube 101. The bulb 102 may be formed of plastic, rubher, or any other suitable material and is molded in a normally open or inflated shape while bellows 97 is molded in a normally flat, collapsed shaped, as illustrated in Fig. 2. Bellows 97 rests upon shelf 92 directly under lateral arm 91 of the rocker catch 85.

In use, the automatic pitching apparatus is first loaded with a plurality of practice type baseballs or any other suitable missiles. In the case illustrated, three balls 18 are loaded into the upper opening 105 formed by edges 36 on walls 34 above partitions 38. They will be re leased through a lower opening 106 formed below partitions 38 by edges 35 of walls 34. When the balls are loaded, the first one will roll down partitions 38, strike partitions 39 and roll down to a position resting on partitions 39 and walls 27. The second ball will rest on the first ball and on partition 39, the third ball will rest on the second ball and on partitions 38. To cock the lever striker arm, the outside knob 67 is pulled downwardly either by foot or by hand to the bottom of slot 17, thus placingthe lever arm 55 in a horizontal position in which the hook 87 can engage opening 70 of the lever arm. As the-lever arm 55 is moved down to horizontal position, the front edge of opening 70 presses against the leading edge of hook 87 forcing the hook backwards. When opening 70 is down about the neck of book 87, the weight of forward arm 91 will pull the hook forward over the leading edge of opening '70, thus securing the lever arm 55 against upward movement; Spring 71 is now under tension. Bellows 97 is deflated, bulb 102 is in normal condition.

The-user then steps back to bulb 102 at the end of hose 100. When the user (or batter) is ready in position, he steps upon or manually squeezes bulb 102, thus inflating bellows 97. When bellows 97 is inflated, it increases in size and presses up on the lateral arm 91 of the rocker catch, pressing the arm upward. As the fiat lateral arm 9i. is pressed upwards, this motion is transmitted through arm 90 to hook 87 which is-forced backwards, releasing its grip on the leading edge ofopening 70 in the lever arm and thereby allowing spring 71 to force the lever arm 55 upward. Further rotation of catch 85 is'arrested when limit arm 88 meets'lug 8 As arm 55 springs upward, the striking arm 78 attached thereto meets the lower ball 18 resting on partitions 39.

As thestriking arm 78 passes between partitions 39, the

force of itsmotion is transmitted to the ball 18 which ing 106. The upward motion of the lever-striker arm is arrested when stop roller 68 hits reinforced lug 51. As the ball 18 is thrown out of opening 106, the batter can take a swing at it.

The batter then releases bulb 102, allowing the rocker latch to return to forward position. The user again depresses knob 67 cocking the lever striking arm which rocks hooks 87 into position so as to hold the lever arm down.

When the striker arm is in the upwards position, it is held by reinforced lug 51 from moving past the second ball in the ball chamber so that it may be moved back: wards and downwards without being interfered with by the second ball. When the lever-striker arm is cocked for the second time, the second ball in the chamber will roll down partitions'39 and rest on walls 27. The third ball will follow the second ball. Launching procedure is repeated until all balls are released, or the balls may be reloaded into opening 105 after each launching.

Increasing the length of the upper ball chamber tube formed by partitions 38 and by wall 32 and side walls 33 will increase the reserve capacity ofv theapparatus.

It will thus be seen that there is provided a device in which the several objects of this invention are achieved and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention in some detail, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Pat- .ent of the United States, is:

1. A ball throwing apparatus comprising a chamber having a discharge end through which a ball may be discharged, said chamber being formed with an opening, and means for discharging the ball from said chamber, said means comprising a pivoted lever adapted to pass through said opening in the chamber for engagement with the ball, spring means for activating the lever into position for striking the ball to discharge the latter from said chamber, releasable catch means engaging the lever to retain the lever in a cocked position tensioning said spring means, and means for disengaging the catch from the lever, said means comprising an inflatable bellows member adapted to move the catch when the bellows member is inflated, a flexible hose connected at one end to the bellows member, and an air bulb connected to the opposite end of the hose.

2. The combination of claim 1, in combination with a handle on the lever for rotating said lever towards cocked position against the tension of said spring means.

3. Ball throwing apparatus comprising a casing, said casing comprising upper and lower parallel passages inclined forwardly and upwardly and open at their forward ends whereby a ball may be inserted through the open end of the upper passage, said casing being formed with a passage interconnecting-the rear end of the upper passage with the rear end of the lower passage whereby a ball inserted into the upper passage will drop down into the rear end of the lower passage, resilient releasable means for discharging a ball in the lower passage through the forward open end of said passage, means for holding said releasable means in stressed condition, and a pneumatic device cooperative with said holding means for remotely manually actuating said releasable means.

4. The combination of claim 3, said means comprising a lever pivoted within said casing, spring means for swing ing the lever upwardly into engagement with a ball in the lower passage, a catch engaging the lever to retain the same in cocked position, and said pneumatic device ii comprising means for moving the'catch to a position releasing the lever.

5. The combination of claim 4, said catch moving means comprising an inflatable bellows so positioned that when inflated it will move said catch to releasing position,

a flexible hose connected at one end to the bellows, and an air bulb connected to the other end of said hose.

6. The combination of claim 3, and a ramp inclined downwardly and forwardly within the rear end of said casing for guiding balls passing down the upper passage, downwardly and forwardly to the rear end of said lower passage.

7. The combination of claim 4, said casing being formed with an arcuate slot and a handle attached to the lever and passing through the slot.

8. Ball throwing apparatus comprising a base portion, a mechanism housing formed on said base portion, a ball chamber formed on said housing, said ball chamber being angled upwardly and being formed with an upper and lower front opening, a partition behind said openings so as to divide said ball chamber, said chamber being adapted to receive a plurality of balls, said chamber being formed at its rear end with a downwardly angled partition adapted to feed said balls downwardly to the bottom wall of said ball chamber, said bottom wall of said ball chamber being formed with an opening to receive a striking arm, a pivotally mounted lever arm mounted at the lower front portion of said housing, spring means to force said lever arm upwards, the outward end of said lever being formed with a striking arm portion extending from said lever arm, said housing containing a pivotally mounted catch means positioned adjacent said lever arm and adapted to engage said lever arm when said lever arm is thrust down upon said catch, said catch means being formed with an extended arm, said catch means being adapted to disengage said lever arm when rotated by movement of said extended arm, an inflatable bellows member being positioned adjacent said extended arm of said catch means and having a hose means connected thereto, said hose means connected at said outside end to a squeezable bulb so that deflating said squeezable bulb will inflate said bellows member, and said bellows member being positioned so as to engage and press upon said extended arm of said pivotally mounted catch when said bellows member is inflated,

thus causing said pivotally mounted catch to disengage said lever arm, said spring loaded lever arm being adapted to swing upwardly in an are so that said striking arm shall strike a ball in a lower portion of said ball chamber thereby throwing said ball out of said chamber through said lower opening in the front of said chamber.

9. The combination of claim 8, in combination with means to limit the upward movement of said lever arm.

10. The combination of claim 8, in combination with means on the lever arm projecting from said housing to return said lever arm to a lower position re-engaging said catch. I

11. The combination of claim 8, said mechanism housing being formed with a curved slot, said lever arm being formed with a rod extending outwardly therefrom through said slot,-and a knob on said rod outside of said housing, and a limit means formed at the upper end of said slot so as to limit the upward pivotal swing of said lever.

12. A ball throwing apparatus adapted to be mounted on the ground, said apparatus being formed with a mechanism housing, said .mechanism housing being formed with a ball reservoir chamber, said ball chamber being formed in an upwardly angled position, said ball chamber being elongated and formed with a front end and a rear end, said front of said ball chamber being formed with a pair of divided openings, said ball chamber being adapted to receive a plurality of balls through said upper opening, means within said ball chamber to channel said balls to a lower rearward position in said ball chamber, said ball chamber being formed with a lower wall, said lower wall being formed with an elongated opening therein adapted to receive a striking arm, said mechanism housing being formed with a pair of side walls, a pivot means positioned between said side walls at the lower front end of said housing, a lever arm pivotally mounted on said pivot means extending rearwardly from said pivot means, said lever arm being formed with a striking'means, spring means connected to said lever arm and adapted to force said lever arm upwardly and forwardly about said pivot point, said striking means being adapted to pass through said opening between said lower ball chamber walls so to strike a ball positioned there, abutment means between said side walls to limitthe swing of said lever about said pivot point, pivotally mounted catch means positioned between said housing walls adjacent the lever, said pivotally mounted catch means adapted to engage said-lever arm when saidlever arm is in a downwards position upon rotation of said catch means, said catch means adapted to disengage said lever arm upon counterrotation thereof, an inflatable bellows member mounted between said housing walls adjacent said catch means, said inflatable bellows member adapted to press upon and counter-rotate said pivotally mounted catch means upon inflation thereof, means mounted outside of said apparatus connected to said bellows member and adapted to inflate said bellows member.

13. The combination of claim 12, said means for inflating said bellows member comprising an elongated hose connected to said bellows member and extending out of said housing and provided with a squeezable air bulb at the outward end of said hose means.

14-. The combination of claim '12, said mechanism housing being formed with a curved slot therein, said lever arm being formed with a pin extending outwardly therefrom through said curved slot, in said housing wall, and knob means mounted upon the outside end of said pm.

15. The combination ofclaim 12, said catch being provided with means to limit the counter-rotation thereof.

16. The combination of claim 12, said lever arm formed with an opening therein, said catch means comprising a pivotally mounted central section, a hook means extending upwardly and forwardlyfrorn said center section and adapted to engage the forward edge of said opening in said lever arm, said catch means formed with a forwardly extending arm means, said bellows member being positioned adjacent said arm and adapted so as to push said arm when inflated, thereby counter-rotating said catch so as to disengage said lever, thereby releasing said arm.

17. A ball throwing apparatus comprising a pair of half case members fitted together so as tofdrm a case having a base, a mechanism housing formed on said base, a

and a reservoir chamber formed on said housing, said chamber formed at an upwardly angled position, said chamber formed with a front wall, a pair of openings formed in said front wall, a partition formed extending rearwardly from between said openings on each side of said chamber, a partition formed on each side of said chamber at the rear of said chamber extending from the top rear end of said chamber towards the lower front end of said chamber, said chamber formed extending outwardly sideways from said housing, an opening formed between said chamber and said housing, the side walls of said housing being formed at the lower front end of said housing with outwardly projecting pin receiving means, a pin extending between said pin receiving means, a channeled lever arm pivotally mounted on said pin, and extending rearwardly therefrom within said housing, saidlever arm formed with an outwardly extending striker arm member, spring means coiled about said pin member, said spring-means provided with outwardly extending arms engaging said lever and said housing base, one of said half members formed with a curved slot in the housing wall thereof, said channeled lever arm being formed with a pair of side walls, a second pin member extending between said side walls and through said slot, a roller member mounted on said second pin between said side walls of said lever arm, a lug means formed in said case halves at the upper end of said slot, said roller member adapted to meet said lug means at the upper end of the lever are when said lever is swung up about said mounting pin, a bottom wall formed between the side walls of said channeled lever arm, an opening formed in said bottom wall of said lever arm, a rocker catch pivotally mounted within said housing, said rocker catch positioned below said opening in said lever arm when said lever arm is in lowered position, said rocker catch formed with an upwardly and forwardly extending hook portion and a forwardly extending arm portion, said hook portion being adapted to be pushed back by the lowering of said lever arm and pulled forward by the weight of said extended arm, said rocker catch being formed with a limit arm to limit the rearward movement of said hook, an inflatable bellows member positioned within said housing beneath and adjacent said forwardly extending arm of said rocker catch, means to retain said inflatable bellows member in said position, said housing formed with means to support said bellows member, a hose connected to said inflatable bellows member, said housing formed with an opening through which said hose extends from said inflatable bellows member out of said housing and a squeezable air bulb attached to the end of said hose extending out of said housing.

18. In a ball throwing apparatus the combination comprising a base portion, a housing formed on said base portion, a ball chamber in said housing, said ball chamber being angled upwardly and formed with an upper front opening and a lower front opening, a partition. behind said openings to divide said ball chamber, said chamber being adapted to receive a plurality of balls and being formed at its rear end with a downwardly angled partition adapted to feed said balls downwardly to the bottom wall of said ball chamber, said bottom wall of said ball chamber being formed with an opening to receive a striking arm, a pivotally mounted lever arm'mounted at the lower front portion of said housing, spring means to force said lever upwards, the outward end of said lever being formed with a striking arm portion extending from said lever arm, catch means for holding said lever in downward position in the lower front portion of said housing against the urging of said spring means, and means for releasing said catch means to allow said lever arm to swing upwardly in an are so that said striking means will strike a ball in the lower portion of said chamber thereby ejecting said ball out of said chamber through said lower opening in the front of said chamber.

7 19. The combination of claim 18 in combination with means to limit the upward movement of said lever arm.

20. The combination of claim 18 in combination with means on the lever arm projecting from 'said housing to return said lever arm to said downward position in engagement with said catch means.

21. The combination of claim 18, said housing being formed with a curved slot, said lever having a rod extending through said slot, and limit means formed at the upper end of said slot to limit the upward pivotal swing of said lever.

22. A pair of interconnected chambers, the first chamber adapted to retain a ball in position for strikmg, a striking arm pivotally mounted within the second chamber, means to rotate the free end of the striking arm from one position spaced from the first chamber to a second position adjacent and] partially extending into the first chamber, a movable catch mounted within the second chamber to retain the striking arm in said first position, an inflatable bellows located entirely within the second chamber and supported thereby, said bellows positioned adjacent said catch so as to move the catch upon inflation of the bellows thus releasing the striking arm from the first position, and a defiatable bellows located externally of the second housing and connected with the first bellows for inflation thereof upon deflation of the second bellows.

23. The combination of claim 22, a ball within said first chamber, said ball being formed of resilient material.

24. The combination of claim 22, and a means for resetting the striking arm from the second position to the first position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Auch May 9, La Coste Oct. 7, Trubenbach Sept. 19, Harris Jan. 9, Beasley May 18, Gowland June 16 FOREIGN PATENTS Germany June 19, France Jan. 29, Switzerland Mar. 19, Germany July 27, Italy Jan. 8, Germany Mar. 15, 

